No common PG medical entrance test next year

New Delhi: The government has decided not to hold the common PG medical entrance test next year as proposed earlier, citing lack of resources and expertise. The National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) for all postgraduate medical seats across the country will now be held only in 2013, given the lack of resources and expertise required to conduct the examination on a national scale in different medical streams. [caption id=“attachment_111944” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“The test was earlier scheduled to be held in January-February 2012. Reuters”]  [/caption] “In view of lack of resources we have decided that the test will now be held in 2013 and the National Board for Examination (NBE) will be roped in to conduct the test. It will by then strengthen its own resources and infrastructure. At present, it does not have the capabilty for holding the exam,” Health Secretary PK Pradhan told PTI. The test was earlier scheduled to be held in January-February 2012 for admissions in the academic year 2012-2013 and the Medical Council of India had requested the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to hold the test on its behalf. There are, in all, 21000 PG seats in the country at present. AIIMS has now, in writing, declined MCI’s request citing its infrastructural inability in conducting the proposed NEET on such a large scale. At present, AIIMS conducts entrance examinations for 50 percent of the existing PG medical seats in the country. PTI